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I will be playing a gig soon where low and loud is required in the range below Bb - it is not my best thing, and I was hoping for some insights from the forum as to how I can improve my low attacks. I am not as young as I used to be, and air quickly becomes an issue below Bb. Low E has become almost impossible for me to hit with any volume and attack - maybe I have been playing quintet too long. I play a VMI 3301 which shouldn't be too small with a MF 3 or 3H MP, right?
Thanks for any ideas of practice methods or equipment changes to improve this weakness for me.
Steve

Hi,
I just played a concert that included a large work composed of selections from Wagner's Ring compiled by our conductor. ...lots of low and loud (also some soft) E's Eb's, F,etc. I used a VMI 3301 BBb I tried a bunch of my mpcs and finally settled on a Rudy Meinl Diespeck /A. RM 0 It's a large(for me), very open mpc and enabled me to get both the attacks and volume I needed. It has a fairly flat rim. Breath control was also an issue for me because of the length of some passages. The hall's acoustics enabled me to take more quick breaths and seemed to minimize breaks in the sound. I hope your performance goes well.
Pete

For me, I would focus more on clarity more than volume. If you can nail it clearly, low and at a normal (or more) volume, then you can work on building up your volume. It doesn't work for me to fart out a low note loudly, and then try to clean it up. I also think clarity helps reduce the need for volume as well. When I see really great bands (like military bands), their intonation and clarity contribute to the loudness as much as the sheer volume.

I will be playing more or less a unison part with the timpani so maybe volume should not be so much of a worry, just accuracy and clarity - thanks Bort.
As for the MP, if I were to buy a new one, what might differ from the MF 3 or 3H I have? They are very large MP's I think, but I don't have the dozens of ones other have to compare to. Also, are here any low range exercises which might be effective? Thanks for the replies.

I think a shallower mouthpiece could help give more bite/clarity... not sure what to suggest, but maybe look in that direction?

I usually end up with the large bore one.

Playing in the low register, I love the warren deck (9.65 bore) for attacks and clarity, thou an even bigger bucket
gives me even more round sound (like the Loud LM3/houser mk3).

I have that one also drilled up, but still the more funnel shaped WD is more efficient.
Playing funky music down toward pedal BBb just gets fun, but of course needs
practice.

Ironically, I believe playing bass trumpet/trombone has given me an edge in that register
as it demands quite a bit of focus down there

bort wrote:For me, I would focus more on clarity more than volume. If you can nail it clearly, low and at a normal (or more) volume, then you can work on building up your volume. It doesn't work for me to fart out a low note loudly, and then try to clean it up. I also think clarity helps reduce the need for volume as well. When I see really great bands (like military bands), their intonation and clarity contribute to the loudness as much as the sheer volume.

Words of wisdom. +1

Ace